boy ISP didnt last long. I heard but dont know if its true or not, it averaged about 40 pax per flight. Its sad to see the furloughs. We had 2 classes of F/As graduate a month ago and are getting furloughed. Im sure its going to get worse before it gets better for all airlines. Lets just hope it does getter better, in time.

They definitely do not give up...NK is not doing well at all. How can they apply for Manaus and AA has not been able to start MIA-MAO or other Brazilian destinations? NK is trashing the markets w/lextra low fares.

The LFCs may get some access in the new Brazilian treaty but they will not walk away with huge chunks of it. AA and DL can use much bigger aircraft and serve more of the US. The LFCs will be given a presence just to make sure the network carriers don't look like they are controlling the market but there is alot of Brazil that is well beyond the range of anything any US LFC can fly.

Something is gotta give. Saying they are in the best position over any carrier to expand.

People love to trash Spirit, but they really aren't in that bad a position. We don't know their 1Q financial since they are a private company, but their CEO claimed they made money in the first quarter.

They have a fuel efficient fleet and a network that is increasingly becoming concentrated on Latin America and the Caribbean, where break-even load factors are typically low, competition is limited, and traffic continues to be strong.

I do think they make a prime takeover target, though. Their FLL hub is quite a valuable asset.

Quick reference to the ISP comment, here they are losing Spirit, but isn't ISP in the spotlight on every airline's cut list. Not this past announcement, but just prior, ISP took a hit with the SWA flight reductions when they were trimming their schedule and realigning to meet demand.

On the Spirit topic, I've been looking online and just can't find it anywhere, but can anybody tell me what their fleet is currently before they eliminate the 5 A319? I just saw one of their A321 in a picture heading for Australia and didn't realize that Spirit was already getting rid of the A321. Do they have the A321 still or are they gone as well and if anybody on there knows Spirit that well, can they help me with a little fleet breakdown maybe past 6 months to now to projected. Thanks all

Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 8):People love to trash Spirit, but they really aren't in that bad a position. We don't know their 1Q financial since they are a private company, but their CEO claimed they made money in the first quarter.

While I really don't have much respect for NK they are a very competitive airline and brings relief to flyers in terms of fares.
According to the DOT they lost US$5m for the first quater with revenues increased by 31% over the same period last year, while cost went up by 27%.
Thier yields however is a huge cause for concern, their yields dropped by 11%, RASM down 5% hoewver their CASM was down 11%.

I find it interesting Spirit wants ro fly to Markets 4 and 5 hours from FLL. Spirit already flies from FLL to Lima, Peru with A319's. Manaus has to be 5 hours flying time from FLL, why does this airline want to serve this route.

Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 8): We don't know their 1Q financial since they are a private company, but their CEO claimed they made money in the first quarter.

Repeating myself: All airline routes are profitable until they are cut for "lack of equipment". I'd expect even bolder statements than the above coming from Spirit. Had they been profitable, they would not be looking at lopping off two thirds of their operation this Fall.

Spirit getting FLL-MAO is a waste of frequencies. MIA-MAO is served by TAM and Spirit will replicate their service with less connectivity. The frequencies are better used at Brazilian cities that currently lack daily nonstop service to the United States.

Finally, Manaus is not Lima. There is little immigrant traffic to MAO.

Quoting Incitatus (Reply 15):Had they been profitable, they would not be looking at lopping off two thirds of their operation this Fall.

Two third of their operation? Which other cities will be cut?

Quoting Incitatus (Reply 15):Spirit getting FLL-MAO is a waste of frequencies. MIA-MAO is served by TAM and Spirit will replicate their service with less connectivity.

Who says NK is looking for connectivity on that route? As MAH4546 states I think NK will focus on their own market which is tourists coming from the U.S. Connectivity within Brazil is not an issue here as they're probably not looking for that.

Quoting A388 (Reply 17):Who says NK is looking for connectivity on that route? As MAH4546 states I think NK will focus on their own market which is tourists coming from the U.S.

There is no viable route between the US and Brazil outside GRU/GIG without connectivity. That's why TAM schedules MIA-MAO-BEL-FOR and relies on a US partner. South Florida won't fill up an airplane per day to Manaus.

Quoting Incitatus (Reply 22):There is no viable route between the US and Brazil outside GRU/GIG without connectivity. That's why TAM schedules MIA-MAO-BEL-FOR and relies on a US partner. South Florida won't fill up an airplane per day to Manaus.

There is no viable route between the US and Brazil outside GRU/GIG without connectivity? Please provide us with relaible facts. Besides NK has there own feed from their own network and the U.S. itself. As I have said NK does not need connectivity in Brazil. They will go for the U.S. (tourist) market.

About the link you provided, it is invalid as no such lay-offs have been announced by NK. I know of that article but it's based on nothing (yet). As I have said before about this article, when NK announces these lay-offs themselves than it is true. This is just an article that anyone can write. Hell, even I can write an article about TAM closing down 2/3 of its network. The article also says that NK "may" lay off the number of personnell mentioned, meaning it is not confirmed. Please read first what the article actually says. It doesn't confirm anything. It might as well happen but let's not jump to conclusions or anything else until NK themselves announce these lay-offs. For now that article is nothing more than an article.